CPUT’s NRF-rated researchers were acknowledged during a recent ceremony, held at the Bellville Campus.

The event also recognised the institution’s postdoctoral fellows.

NRF ratings are allocated based on a researcher’s recent research outputs and impact as perceived by international peer reviewers.

The ratings fall within the following categories:

• A – Leading international researchers
• B – Internationally acclaimed researchers
• C – Established researchers
• P – Prestigious Awards
• Y – Promising young researchers

Vice-Chancellor Prof Chris Nhlapo, who served as the institution’s first Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Technology Innovation and Partnerships, said the institution has come a long way since 2006 when CPUT’s NRF-rated researchers could be counted on one hand.

“Some people joined us recently and they will think that we have always had over 70 rated researchers. We’ve come from far and it was incredibly challenging.”

He said there was no room for complacency and CPUT would continue to strive to improve its ratings.

Prof Marshall Sheldon, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Technology Innovation and Partnerships, also delivered a message of support.

“As an NRF-rated researcher myself, I am deeply appreciative and acknowledge the work that you've done so far,” she said.

She said the researchers had contributed to shaping the institution’s reputation.

“Your ratings for me are not just metrics. It’s symbols of years and sometimes decades of late nights, early nights, whole nights, years of peer reviews, revisions, feedback, and sometimes very devastating feedback and rejections. But you keep going. It's years of revision, revision, revision leading to what we can today call our flagship projects and breakthroughs that we’ve achieved as an institution.”

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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In an effort to build on and explore partnerships and capacity building in the field of space, the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) Space Science and Technology (SST) Chief Directorate and the Department of Defence (DoD) visited the Space facility infrastructure in the Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment (FEBE) recently.

The two government departments were at CPUT to conceptualise and co-design space programmes that are relevant to the national imperatives and societal needs.  The delegation also included delegations from the South African National Space Agency (SANSA) and Armscor.

In his welcoming speech,  Vice-Chancellor, Prof Chris Nhlapo, said: “We acknowledged that the challenges facing the global community are getting more complex and interdependent and thus global partnership between universities, business, industry and government are essential elements for the success of any institution.  Partnership/collaboration, however, is not a given, collaborate or collapse,” Nhlapo continued.

“The facility you are visiting today owes its success to the CPUT, DSI, The French South African Institute of Technology (F’SATI) that was jointly developed by French and South African Governments, National Research Foundation (NRF) and SANSA.”

The Vice-Chancellor emphasised that it is a mandate of the institution to produce adaptable graduates who are solution driven and can respond to socio-economic challenges. Nhlapo further reiterated the importance of collapsing the boundaries within collaborations to strengthen strategic partnerships and initiatives. He said these can be achieved through continuous engagements with various stakeholders. “We managed to look beyond the hype and mania associated with 4IR (not to mention fear, uncertainty, and doubt.

Nhlapo said universities cannot protect jobs which are made redundant by technology – “but they do have a responsibility to their people”. “Protect people (upskilling) not jobs,” he remarked.

“If technology is killing jobs, then it is only technology [that] can save them.  It is the new equation, and we must solve it.”

Research Technology Innovation and Partnerships Assistant Dean, Prof Veruscha Fester and Dr Angus Brandt – FSATI/ASIC, provided an overview of the FEBE and Satellite Programme. Acting Chief Engineer, Nyameko Royi facilitated a tour of the space facilities.

SST Chief Director, Humbulani Mudau acknowledged the continuous partnership DSI has with CPUT. Mudau pointed out that they brought DoD, SANSA and Armscor to allow the opportunity to engage with engineering to understand CPUT requirements. Manager Research Uptake: Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships, Dr Nelisiwe E. Maleka, added that the key message from the engagements “was that creating access to space and building viable indigenous programme is critical for our country”. “Therefore, a need exists to create opportunities within the field of space and explore other ways of increasing SMMEs [small, micro, and medium enterprises], business development and entrepreneurship. Meanwhile SANSA acting CEO, Andiswa Mlisa, said: “More women should be encouraged to join the field of space because transformation is key.”

 It is envisaged that this is a continuing and progressive partnerships between delegates and CPUT.

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
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Talented chemistry students Kudzanai Nyamayaro and Kelly Shunje are flying the CPUT flag high.

The duo who are based in the Department of Chemistry have been awarded the Innovation and Priority Research Areas Masters Scholarship, an initiative of the Department of Science and Technology that is facilitated through the National Research Foundation (NRF).The scholarship aims to increase South Africa’s cohort of masters and doctoral graduates.

Applicants face a competitive selection process, but Nyamayaro and Shunje’s excellent academic record helped them clinch the prestigious scholarship. Of the 821 awardees for 2017 nationwide, only 7 CPUT students made it to the list.

Both are currently working towards their MTech qualifications under the guidance of Dr Nikoletta Báthori. Their work is based on crystallography (determining the arrangement of molecules /ions in crystalline solids), with a focus on the improvement of the properties of pharmaceutical drugs.

Shunje is exploring anti-malaria and anti-tuberculosis drugs focusing on improving their physiochemical properties through formation of multicomponent crystals.

With her sights set on graduation in September, Shunje says she enjoys research and is looking forward to applying her skills in the pharmaceutical industry.

“I ventured into this specific area because I have a strong desire to discover solutions towards the alleviation of suffering and peril in the world. I would never be able to be a doctor and work directly with patients, but by working on pharmaceutical drugs I can still help people.”

Nyamayaro, who has already co-published three papers, is focusing his efforts on aspirin and how to increase its lifespan after it is exposed to water or air.

Also set to graduate this Spring, Nyamayaro, who has won several prizes for his outstanding academic records, says he is grateful for the scholarship and the funding it makes available to facilitate his academic and research activities.

Nyamayaro, who has his sights set on completing a doctorate, is one of the top performing students in the Faculty of Applied Science. He was recently awarded the James Moir Medal by the South African Chemical Institute, which recognizes the top chemistry students at each university and university of technology.

However, Nyamayaro says while a love of science prompted him to follow a career in chemistry, hard work has played a huge role in his success.

“I work and study really hard. I think this is a good combination for success. If you put effort into something it will eventually work out,” he says.

Written by Candes Keating
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Provides coverage for the Engineering and Applied Sciences Faculties; the Bellville and Wellington Campuses, and research and innovation news.

The Department of Chemistry has acquired and installed a new Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectrometer after receiving a grant from the National Research Foundation (NRF) last year.

Prof Ahmed Mohammed says the department applied through the National Equipment Programme to the NRF in 2018 and obtained a grant of R 6.8 million to purchase the new equipment. “The important point is that CPUT has been missing this important facility for more than 20 years, and it was requiring strong application with strong motivation from the university,” Mohamed reveals.

The main use of the NMR is to study the chemical structure of organic compounds, especially natural compounds obtained from natural resources such as plants, microbes and or marine organisms.

“All researchers working in related activities from the university and industrial sector are very welcome to come and use the facility. The department, especially postgraduate students working in the organic chemistry field, [have already] started to use the equipment.”

The equipment covers very important and essential types of analysis required by all researchers in Applied Sciences, and “The NMR facility fills a strong gap to run advanced research with excellent quality, meaning there is no research in organic chemistry that can be completed without the NMR facility”.

All postgraduates, researchers from different faculties, including Applied Sciences and Engineering, and industrial sectors can use the equipment for different purposes including pharmaceutical industries, polymer, food technology, agriculture, environment and many more.

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
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